October

October turned out to be quite an eventful month. Of course, the main event was our week in Colorado and Hyrum's road trip with his grandparents, but there were a couple other breaks from the new norm to celebrate.

At the beginning of the month we got to start going to church every week. It's still only Sacrament Meeting, and it's structured a bit differently so that they can broadcast the talks, and we still don't get to sing or stick around to socialize, but fellowshipping with the saints in any degree is definitely something to celebrate. Also, I, along with eight students, broke off from Sister Park's seminary class in the middle of the month. Those who want meet with me at 6:30 am via Zoom M-Th and we do the home study lesson together. Those who don't want to do the whole early morning thing do the lesson on their own and turn it in to me for credit. We also have a mandatory class on Friday mornings. I get on average 3-5 kids participating in the home study lessons, and a couple more who come just on Friday's, which is about what I expected. I feel like it's going pretty well and am enjoying the calling quite a lot. Other breaks from the norm included an October camping trip and a notable two days of snow.

Some things didn't change so much, like social distancing, which we've tried to balance with masks, quick chats outside, group video games online, and our weekly kid swap with the Browns (who are the only other children my kids get to play with in person). 

Other tidbits of note: Matthew got obsessed with reloading for a couple weeks and went on unsuccessful one day hunts with Beto and with Jeb. We made Mabel an insulated dog house, Abraham and Mercy switched rooms, I taught an online Activity Days lesson, Matthew and I started using Zwift (an online, virtual cycling/running program), Grandma J came for a long weekend, and my Etsy shop must have come back around to a featured position because I had a flurry of sales after almost two months of nothing.

Covid Stats:

World: 45.9M cases, 1.19 deaths

US: 9.2M cases, 230K deaths

New Mexico: 46,490 cases, 1,018 deaths

Mission Prep:

Zwift + seminary have made keeping on track with my physical and spiritual goals much more straight forward. I signed up for a 6 week FTP training program and Zwift just tells me how and when to ride. I really enjoy the platform, so it's not much of a chore to get on, and the game like qualities of it often keep me riding further and harder than I would likely do on my own. I continue to read with the kids in addition to my seminary study, so I'm getting lots of scriptures in. I miss the temple very much, but feel like the spirit in our home has increased to a degree that I don't miss the peace of the House of the Lord as much as I would have expected. Matthew and I walk together (with Mabel) every morning, and try to spend some time together every evening, so our relationship is getting due attention. I feel on the whole that I am thriving.

Meals:

Southwest salad

Pizza

Hoagies

Chicken and waffles

Curried squash soup

Hot dogs and s'mores

Chicken patty sandwiches

Venison neck roast stew

Pancakes

Frozen pizza

Tortellini with red sauce and Caesar salad

Calzones

Spaghetti pie

Chicken nuggets and Caesar salad

Egg sandwiches

Chicken pesto pasta

Crepes

Pesto tortellini

Scrambled eggs and hash browns

Tacos

Korean BBQ pork loin and mashed potatoes

Carrot soup